First responders urge residents to be smart during storm

NEW LONDON — There are plenty of dangers that accompany a hurricane, but first responders say the No. 1 killer during big storms is stupidity.

Municipal representatives and emergency coordinators discussed ways to prevent tragic indiscretions during a pre-hurricane meeting Sunday afternoon in the New London municipal building.

The meeting was organized by Avon Grove Regional Emergency Management (AGREM), a group that coordinates rescue and response efforts among municipalities in the Avon Grove area in times of large-scale crisis.

AGREM President Mike Predmore said that high on the list of potential dangers are people who drive through “road closed” barriers, even when people posted near the signs tell them not to proceed.

He recounted an incident he witnessed in which a man and his wife drove up to a road closure. The couple got out of their car and moved the cone out of the way then get back in the car and drove until it could proceed no farther, at which point the driver turned around and had his wife move the cone again so they could drive away.

AGREM Emergency Coordinator Chuck Freese noted a recently passed Pennsylvania law stipulates anyone proceeding through a road-closed barrier must pay any and all expenses incurred by fire companies and rescue crews forced to respond following such acts of ignorance.

Another dangerous behavior over which most of the 13 people at the meeting shook their heads in agreement regards residents who are too eager to use chain saws to cut up downed trees.

The trouble is, wires are frequently tangled in the branches, and it is easy to sever one of those lines and risk electrocution.

London Britain Supervisor Aileen Parrish said she once had to argue with one of her constituents for 15 minutes to convince him not to use a chainsaw on a downed tree until the wires were safely removed.

In addition to talking about the missteps some storm victims take, the group discussed the more routine aspects of hurricane response.

On the issue of downed wires and the resultant power outages that are expected, Predmore said that if the power goes out in southern Chester County, it will be 48 hours before it is restored because of the wide area that Hurricane Sandy is predicted to cover.

Freese said both the Oxford and West Grove fire companies would be staffed around the clock during the storm. The West Grove New London station has bunks and a kitchen for storm victims seeking temporary shelter.

The main Red Cross shelter for southern Chester County is Avon Grove High School, which opened on Sunday afternoon, although no one had arrived at that time.

Regarding Avondale Apartments, which invariably flood during heavy rains, West Grove Mayor Steve Black said he had heard that arrangements were being made to ensure those residents and their pets could be taken to the high school for shelter.

Several township officials said they had called people with special needs to check on their wellbeing. These residents include people on dialysis or who use oxygen or who have other debilitating health conditions.

Southern Chester County EMS (Medic 94) Executive Director Bob Hotchkiss said he was unsure whether severe weather conditions increases calls for emergency medical response, but with many roads closed, it often takes longer to get to the patients.

He cautioned that people who delay seeking medical care for minor injuries because of bad weather may later have to call for an ambulance if their conditions worsen.

Predmore said if a person is trapped behind rushing, overflowing streams, the fire company can extend a ladder across the water for a victim to escape. And he said fire company personnel can rescue people when a tree falls on a house even if they are not in a position to do anything about the tree itself.

The group also discussed communications systems able to run on battery power.

Predmore said AGREM is seeking nearly $1 million to set up an AM radio frequency so people can access safety information all the time.

AGREM serves municipalities in the Avon Grove School District. A similar organization serves the Oxford Area School District.

For more information on local hurricane response online, visit www.agrem.org.